Middle East Experience

A recovery in tourism, one of the hardest hit industries by the COVID-19 pandemic, is inevitably tied to health considerations. It also depends on governments’ willingness to move away from old models toward long-term sustainability..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Global Tourism Post COVID-19 and the Island Model

The number of reported coronavirus cases increased for the first time in seven weeks, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday.“In the past week, the number of reported cases of COVID-19 increased for the first time in 7 weeks. Reported cases increased in four of WHO’s six regions: the Americas, Europe, South East Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean. This is disappointing, but not surprising,” he said.Visit our dedicated coronavirus site here for all the latest updates.He urged countries to remember that vaccines alone cannot keep people safe from infection, stressing the importance of basic public precautionary health measures.“We’re working to better understand these increases in COVID-19 transmission. Some of it appears to be due to relaxing of public health measures, continued circulation of variants, and people letting down their guard,” he added.The WHO DG urged governments to continue testing, contact tracing, isolation, supported quarantine and quality care, and individuals to avoid crowds, practice physical distancing, hand hygiene, wear masks and ensure proper ventilation.The global COVID-19 tally stood at over 114 million confirmed cases, 64.5 million recovered patients and 2.5 million deaths, according to John Hopkins.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Read more:Global COVID-19 vaccinations surpass reported infections: WHOWhen will life return to normal? In 7.4 years at today's coronavirus vaccine ratesEU, WHO help with COVID-19 vaccinations in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus cases increased for the first time in 7 weeks: WHO’s Tedros

Protests on social media by Egyptians rejecting a new legislative amendment to the real estate registration and notary authority’s law reflected significant anger at the government’s policies in light of Cairo’s insistence on imposing taxes and onerous procedures to register their real estate properties, especially as 92% percent of Egyptian buildings are not officially registered..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Anger over property tax may force Egyptian government to back down

Egypt has recently granted citizenship to three brothers from the Sinai Peninsula, renewing calls by other stateless individuals, mainly tribesmen, to receive the citizenship as they are deprived of their most basic rights.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt's stateless keep receiving empty promises of citizenship

The latest Houthi offensive in Yemen’s city of Marib is a battle against the United States and its allies, the group’s top military official Abdullah al-Sharifi told the militia’s al-Masirah TV.“The fight now is not with our brothers, but it is between us and infidelity, America and its allies,” he said.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.New clashes between Yemen’s internationally-recognized government and the Iran-backed group erupted earlier this month after weeks of relative calm in the region.The group has also targeted Saudi Arabia several times in recent weeks, striking Abha International Airport, and attempting to hit civilian areas with missiles and drones.Iran backs the Houthis in their war against the Yemeni government, supplying the group with weapons, such as drones and missiles, that are often used to target civilians.The UN’s envoy to Yemen last week condemned the group’s offensive in Marib and called for negotiations.“The conflict in Yemen has taken a sharp escalatory turn with [the Houthis’] most recent offensive in Marib governorate. I have condemned this many times since early last year when this offensive operation started, and I will repeat my call now: the attack on Marib must stop. It puts millions of civilians at risk,” Martin Griffiths told the UN Security Council on Thursday.Read more:UN envoy: Yemen’s Houthis threaten peace, but US offers ‘new opportunity’Pentagon doubles down on support for Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacksIran-backed Houthis resume offensive in Yemen’s Marib
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Houthi offensive in Yemen’s Marib is battle against US, its allies: Official

Saudi Arabia detected 315 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the Kingdom to 375,006, the Ministry of Health announced on Sunday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The total number of active cases in the Kindgom is 2,451 out of which only 508 are critical, according to the ministry.Four people died due to complications caused by COVID-19, raising the virus-related death toll in the country to 6,461.Meanwhile, the total number of recoveries rose to 366,094 after 349 people recovered from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours. Over 17 million people have used “Tawakkalna” app in Saudi Arabia, the official application approved by the Ministry of Health to limit the spread of the coronavirus, since it was launched nine months ago, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday.Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) President Dr Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi said the app was a pioneering utilization of technology during the pandemic, and enabled the Kingdom to record cases of the coronavirus and limit the spread of new infections.Read more:More than 17 million Saudi residents have used the Tawakkalna COVID-19 app: SPASaudi Arabia authorizes use of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia detects 315 COVID-19 cases, four deaths in 24 hours

Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) has signed an agreement to set up a joint venture with US firm Lockheed Martin to enhance the kingdom’s defence and manufacturing capabilities, the state-owned Saudi company said on Sunday.SAMI, which is owned by the Saudi state’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), will own 51 percent of the venture.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“The new agreement will develop localized capabilities by transferring technology and knowledge, and by training a Saudi workforce in manufacturing products for, and providing services to, the Saudi armed forces,” the statement said.Saudi is one of the world’s largest buyers of foreign arms.SAMI was formed in 2017 to develop local defence manufacturing, help cut spending on imports and create more local jobs. The country’s economic plan, Vision 2030, aims to localize 50 percent of government military spending by 2030.Lockheed Martin in involved in a project to install a $15 billion missile defense system in Saudi Arabia, part of a $110 billion arms package the administration of former President Donald Trump said it negotiated with the kingdom in 2017.Read more:US State Department approves potential sale of 3,000 smart bombs to Saudi ArabiaUS arms sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan completely legal: State Department IGLockheed gets $1 bln down payment for Saudi THAAD missile system
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s SAMI signs deal with Lockheed Martin to enhance defense capabilities

The powerful interior minister of Libya’s unity government survived an assassination attempt Sunday on a highway near the capital Tripoli, an official from his inner circle told AFP.Fathi Bashagha’s convoy “was fired on from an armored car while he was on the highway. His police escort returned fire. Two of the assailants were arrested and a third is in hospital,” the source said, adding that “the minister is fine.”For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Bashagha, a heavyweight in Libyan politics, was returning from a routine visit to a new security unit overseen by his department, the same source said.The 58-year-old has served as interior minister in the Government of National Accord since 2018 and has staked his reputation on battling corruption.Libya has been riven by violence since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed dictator Muammar Gaddafi.Two rival administrations, backed by an array of militias and foreign powers, have vied for control of the oil-rich country.Bashagha had been seen as a favorite to lead a new interim government under UN-led peace efforts following an October ceasefire last year.The post finally went to businessman Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, a 61-year-old engineer, who has called for reconstruction, democracy, and reunification in Libya.Read more:
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Libya’s interior minister escapes assassination attempt: Officials

Egypt sent a missionary convoy of imams and preachers to several Sudanese regions, most notably the Darfur region, where protests and violence broke out amid accusations by the Sudanese government that the Muslim Brotherhood and members of ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's regime were behind them.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt helps Sudan confront Brotherhood ideology through missionaries

Fathi Bashagha's convoy was 'fired on from an armoured car' on Sunday, an official said..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Libya's interior minister escapes assassination attempt